July 5, 2022

Winnipeg
19° C, Partly cloudy

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • Reader BridgeNEW
  • WFP EventsNEW
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Free Press Community Review
    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • LifestylesNEW
    • All Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photo and Book store
  • More

©2022 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Federal Election
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photo and Book store
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Support Faith coverage
    • Support Arts coverage
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
The Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Manitoba’s Top Employers
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe$1.50 for 5 months
Home Local

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Creative Connection

Unique West End studio space nurtures, inspires artistic community

Brenda Suderman By: Brenda Suderman 
Posted: 3:00 AM CST Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Save to Read Later
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Stained glass artist Wes Krahn works in his studio at Artlington Studios.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Stained glass artist Wes Krahn works in his studio at Artlington Studios.

While searching for a studio for his stained glass work, Wesley Krahn stumbled upon a West End warehouse that also became his creative community.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 3/11/2019 (975 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While searching for a studio for his stained glass work, Wesley Krahn stumbled upon a West End warehouse that also became his creative community.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Wes Krahn at work in his studio.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Wes Krahn at work in his studio.

"I like the vibe of the building, and the people," the stained glass restorer says of his 150 sq.-ft. main floor space with 14 ft. ceilings in Artlington Studios.

"We feed off each other. That’s a very important part of being here."

Krahn is one of about two dozen artisans and artists renting studios on the first three floors of the 107-year-old building at 618 Arlington St.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Real estate broker John Hunsberger purchased 618 Arlington St. in 2010 and converted it into Artlington Studios.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Real estate broker John Hunsberger purchased 618 Arlington St. in 2010 and converted it into Artlington Studios.

Real estate broker and home renovator John Hunsberger purchased the former Northland Knitting factory in 2010, updated the building’s wiring, plumbing and heating, and then created an eclectic, vibrant space full of salvaged architectural elements and vintage pieces.

The owner of The Old House Revival Company dug through his storage units and scoured his sales floor for metal railings, old doors, signs and curiosities to divide and decorate the 25,000 sq.-ft. building, creating a sense of openness and whimsy at the same time.

"You are kind of forced to interact," Hunsberger says of the open concept studios, separated from the hallways by windows and walls fashioned from vintage stair railings, including a set salvaged when The Bay’s downtown store underwent renovations.

"If it was sealed off, you can’t see what’s going on here."

And there is plenty to see on the walls, ceiling, doorways and staircases, features that attracted sculptor Sandra Vincent when she was looking for a place away from her busy household to finish a novel.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Sculptor Sandra Vincent in her studio space.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Sculptor Sandra Vincent in her studio space.

Now spending more time on creating ceramic figures of politicians, bears and birds than writing, Vincent finds inspiration from the daily trek to trip to her third-floor studio, passing the building’s many quirky decorations and touches, including the top of a green motorboat mounted on a wall.

"It’s certainly a stimulating place with all the texture and all the reclaimed things," she says of the building, which features tin garage siding and reclaimed wood on walls, vintage bicycles near the ceiling, and a white confessional booth salvaged from a Roman Catholic church.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Abstract painter Danielle Fontaine Koslowsky’s space.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Abstract painter Danielle Fontaine Koslowsky’s space.

"For me, it definitely was a draw to get here, because it was so stunningly beautiful," adds Vincent’s studio neighbour Danielle Fontaine Koslowsky, who accesses her third-floor painting studio through a set of arched church doors.

Their proximity and the ability to see each other’s work led them to consult about a recent installation in what Vincent calls "drive by chats." Vincent was attaching her ceramic birds to a vintage wooden kitchen chair, and Koslowsky suggested painting the chair white and mounting it on a small platform to give it a grander sense.

"It’s not even collaboration, we just process with each other," says Koslowsky, an abstract painter.

"It’s part of the creative process."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Stained glass materials in Wes Krahn’s studio at ARTlington Studios.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Stained glass materials in Wes Krahn’s studio at ARTlington Studios.

That sort of casual sharing of ideas occurs because the open space gives people the ability to see each other’s work without necessarily intruding on each other’s space, says building manager Barb Bottle, an elementary school art teacher who creates multi-media work in her third-floor studio.

She says Hunsberger’s building offers more to artists than typical warehouse studios divided by walls and locked doors, and the space sparks creativity even when artists aren’t at work.

"It’s inspirational because on any given day, even if an artist isn’t around, you can walk around the building and see what they’re working on," says Bottle, a tenant since 2014.

That means artists don’t have to be in their studios at the same time to learn from each other, but it helps when they are, says painter Jean-François Godbout, located across the hall from Koslowsky.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Artlington Studios is designed to allow artists to interact with each other.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Artlington Studios is designed to allow artists to interact with each other.

"You start talking about your work and you start bouncing ideas" off each other, explains the high school vice-principal.

"You investigate your medium in community."

For fashion designer and retailer Sarah Sue MacLachlan, owner of Sarah Sue Design, her small showroom of women’s clothing just inside the building’s front door offers her a place to consult with customers, as well as connect with a community of fellow creatives.

Inspired by the building, she also finds energy from interacting with other artists trying to make a living from their creative work.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Fashion designer Sarah Sue MacLachlan has a small showroom on the main floor of Artlington Studios.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Fashion designer Sarah Sue MacLachlan has a small showroom on the main floor of Artlington Studios.

"Being an artist and a small business owner is a hard gig," says the Manitoba-born MacLachlan, who produces her clothing in Oakbank with the help of a small contingent of employees and contract garment makers.

"We all feel that same artist battle, but in a different medium."

And sometimes artists explore the possibility of other creative pursuits just by stopping by to chat or sitting down over coffee in the common spaces on each floor, says Koslowsky.

Those moments can lead to the cross-pollination of ideas and support during the creative process.

"We need people who understand what our day-to-day work is about," says the painter who also has worked in stained glass.

"Once you created something, who understands it better than someone who saw you doing it?"

The Free Press | Newsletter

Want to get a head start on your day?

Get the day’s breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

Sign up for Head Start
Sign Up
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS</p><p>Jean-François Godbout’s creations on display.</p>

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Jean-François Godbout’s creations on display.

For Krahn, who rented his studio after seeing a sign outside the building advertising space, says working alongside other artists feeds his imagination, as well as providing fewer distractions than a home studio.

"It’s a creative space to do creative work," says the 58-year-old floor installer who designed and constructed a round stained glass window over the front door, spelling out the street number and name of the building.

And its also a creative space to share, says Koslowsky, both with other artists and when the studios are open to the public for events like Doors Open Winnipeg, Nuit Blanche and a show and sale in mid-December.

"This community brings people together to offer support, empowerment, collaboration, critique, networks and dreams," she says.

brenda@suderman.com

Brenda Suderman

Brenda Suderman
Faith reporter

Brenda Suderman has been a columnist in the Saturday paper since 2000, first writing about family entertainment, and about faith and religion since 2006.

   Read full biography

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund
  • The Free Press is certified by

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top